A Summer to Remember

            Wow to be back in the states. I think it’s finally starting to feel normal again. After being in Europe from May-July for 2 months it was really strange being surrounded by English speakers again. I had a pretty quick turn around when I arrived back home. I was offered a Co-Op position in California to start barely a week after I got back. I think being thrown into unfamiliar territories throughout my study abroad experience prepared me to accept another challenge in a place I’m not all too familiar with. I’ve been here for the last month and have gone in with an open mind to the cultural differences and the many new people I have met here. I can’t say that I would have the same attitude without going through what I went through this summer on Study Abroad.

My experience on the History of Medicine Study Abroad program completely exceeded my expectations in every aspect. From a learning standpoint, I had so many incredible experiences on excursions to museums, hospitals, medical centers, and more that put me right in the heart of the material we were studying during lectures in Bonn. I want to highlight a couple of things that still standout to me. Number one was the trip to the Bonn University Hospital, the least “hyped” excursion of them all. I went in thinking I would see routine procedures that I had seen before, which I would have enjoyed as well, but I did not expect to walk into a room in which a man’s sternum was sawed through and a beating heart was lifted almost entirely out of his chest. The procedure itself was amazing to watch and I admired the skill and confidence of the surgeons. What was also really cool about that experience was the environment itself. I spoke hardly any German, but to be right in the middle of a hospital in a foreign country and to be able to interact with German medical students, nurses, anesthesiologists, and surgeons was something I never even thought I would get to experience. Getting to see current medical solutions while studying the history of different medical procedures way back in the day, I was able to admire the progress but also see the parallels and similarities in the way people thought and how different procedures/products developed to what it is today. History of Medicine was a very valuable course for me, even as an Engineering major. I’ve always had an interest in healthcare and am still hoping to keep medical school as an option, but seeing heart valve technology, the development of anesthesia care, and my favorite the orthopedic arm and leg prosthetic devices at the Ottobock was amazing for me as a Biomedical Engineer.

On top of all of the educational excursions, we had free time to explore and immerse ourselves in the culture of many different foreign countries. During my time in Europe I was able to visit 11 different countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Spain, Italy, and Vatican City (If you count that one). The variety of different experiences we had was incredible. From biking through the busy streets of Berlin to the remote island of Norderney. From staring up at the glowing architectural feat that is the Eiffel Tower, to the spiked mountain ranges in rural Switzerland. We really had a chance to see it all, granted only some trips for a couple of days on the weekend, but we tried to get as much into this adventure as possible. I keep saying “we” because within days I made friends with a great group of people who tackled these adventures and challenges along with me. We still talk about study abroad and the things back here in America that take us back to those days across the world. We went through a good amount of challenges along the way, such as missing trains, purses being stolen (and thankfully taken back), bike crashes, and more but it all added to the experience and I wouldn’t change anything except for if I could’ve stayed longer. I did my best to keep an open mind with the new things I tried. The food, easy. I dove right into every cuisine in every country without a second thought. It’s making me hungry thinking about the Schnitzels, Brats, Potatoes, and Bread in Germany. I also tried many new things such as the Saunas and Mudbaths in Norderney. I think my skin is still feeling the effects of that now. I even got used to the public transportation throughout Europe, and Dr. Wasser was right in saying people usually miss that when they go back to the US, because I surely do.

One of the big things that made this program so great was meeting so many people from different countries and relating and connecting with them on so many levels. Yes, Mr. Trump was a common topic that people I met brought up, but on top of that it was nice to feel so many similarities to people growing up across the world. I also felt so welcome in these many different countries. For some reason going into it, I wasn’t entirely sure how people would feel about American tourists, but I can definitely say the welcoming and hospitable reactions greatly outweighed the negative ones. I hope to be able to travel back to these countries and meet back up with Henning, who became basically one of our group by the end while concurrently helping us around unfamiliar territory in Germany. And to go back to Swizterland, where Manfred, someone I had never met and knew through one of my parents friends, let a few of us borrow his car and travel around his beautiful country. He even invited us to stay in his hidden away cabin in the Sevelen Mountains, while being one of the nicest people I have ever met on top of all of that. Those are just a few of the people that really made my experience even better, and I haven’t even mentioned the countless strangers who gave us advice and helped us around or that I just had a casual conversation with in English, Spanish, or my very basic German.

I’m really glad I had the opportunity to go on such an incredible trip with a fantastic group of students and professors. It truly was THE best summer to date. I would recommend this to any inquiring students, and I really hope I get an opportunity to travel back to these places again in the future and expand my cultural horizons a little more.

A Trip to Remember

It's been 8 weeks since I boarded my flight back to America, and I miss Germany more and more everyday. I never would have imagined that a trip could have such a huge impact on me, but it has.

After I left, I landed in Newark and went straight to Starbucks. I had to catch myself when I went to order in German, as I had for the past 6 weeks. Even then I almost said “Dankeschön” to the guy who handed me my drink! It was strange coming back to America and hearing English all around you after being immersed in the German language for so long. Oddly enough, when I landed in San Antonio and got off the plane, I recognized some people speaking German and it was so normal! Hearing people speak German in the SA airport is far from normal though. Originally, I had planned to go to Alamo Café for some good ole tex-mex when I got back, but sadly, my flight from Newark to San Antonio ended up being delayed 2 hours or so, and my only option was Whataburger. Not that I would consider Whataburger settling, but I just really wanted some queso. Luckily my thirst for some queso was quenched the next day. Adjusting to life back in the US was not very difficult, however my sleep schedule was thrown off for weeks. The last time I had been in Europe, I wasn’t affected much by jet lag, but since I had no time to sleep the day away before beginning class at 8am the Monday after I returned, I was quite tired for many days. I took lots of naps and finally got back on track. Overall, it was strange to no longer have public transportation everywhere, and I actually missed picking up a fresh Rosinenbrot from the Bäckerei on the way to AIB for class. Life somehow seemed simpler there, which is odd since that is probably the busiest I’ve ever been in my life. After being back for about a month, I made a visit to our local German restaurant in Boerne to satisfy my craving for some German food. I never thought there would come a day when I would crave sausages and sauerkraut, yet there I was. It turns out, their food is actually not as good as I used to think it was. Germans really do it best. I have no clue what they do differently to their sauerkraut, but whatever it is, we should figure it out because it’s amazing and difficult to replicate. Maybe someday I’ll find some bratwurst that lives up to my high expectations.

Even though I was only there for 6 weeks, Bonn became like a home for me. If you had asked me before I first left for Germany if I thought I would love it so much, I probably would have said no. That country surprised me in many ways, partially because adjusting to life there was so easy. I expected to be homesick the first week or so, and I wasn't, not even a little. All of the people, including my host family, were very nice and easy to communicate with; their lifestyle seemed so relaxed, and the food was incredible. I think oftentimes we think that Europe is a very foreign place, but really, it's not all that different from the way we go about our everyday lives here. Having this experience with study abroad allowed me to explore the country in a way that you normally can't when you are travelling. Being placed with a host family made all the difference in the world to me. You truly get to experience what their life is like on a regular basis. When you are travelling and staying in hotels and eating out for every meal, you miss out on a lot of the authenticity of the place you're in. It becomes much more special when someone welcomes you into their home to experience life with them for 6 weeks. My host family made me feel so at home with them. Dinner always took hours and hours because my host mom and dad, Anne and Gunter, and I would talk for so long! I definitely did not expect to enjoy living with a host family as much as I did. I figured it would be awkward and maybe slightly uncomfortable, and yet it was anything but that. There were a few nights that I was even left alone with just my host sisters, and Viky and Rike made dinner for me and hung out with me. It really helped me to forget that I was in a strange place with people I barely knew.

On top of that, I could not have asked for a better group of people to travel throughout Europe with. Europe itself is incredibly amazing, and it would be very difficult to have a bad time while you’re there, unless you just hate life, but these people are what really made this trip a once in a lifetime experience. Going into the trip, I only really knew one person, Gabe. I had known him for years and years, but knowing 1 out of the other 24 people that would be on this trip with me still was not very comforting. I was very nervous about making friends and finding people I got along with. In retrospect, that seems so silly, because it seems like I have known these people all of my life. During the first week, I can’t even tell you how many people asked Hailey and I how long we had known each other because they thought we were friends prior to the trip! Naturally, when you spend all day everyday with each other for 6 weeks, you get to know each other pretty quickly, but these people are friends for life. I cannot imagine what I’d do without them now, and I have this experience to thank for that. I will never forget the inside jokes, constantly giving Carter a hard time about only owning lacrosse clothing, getting stranded in the middle of the German countryside thanks to an incompetent taxi driver and our endless other grat tims. These people changed me in more ways than one, and I’ll be forever grateful for that. They helped me to let go of my OCD tendencies and just live life to the fullest, going with the flow, taking in each moment, and stopping to take a breath of fresh air every once in a while. I have always been someone who likes to plan things far in advance of when they will occur, and this trip forced me to be okay with making last minute decisions. Worst of all was when we spent 3 weeks saying “we need to plan our last weekend,” and then promptly waited until the WEDNESDAY BEFORE WE LEFT to book a flight. Probably have never been so stressed out in my entire life, but somehow I had faith that it would all work out; and it did. In fact I’d say a last minute trip to Mallorca for 200€ is a little more than just working out. That trip was amazing, and I’m sure we’ll never be able to pull off something like that ever again. I’m now convinced there’s no better way to bond than 7 hour train rides, navigating through foreign cities with a language and currency you do not understand, and picnicking beneath the Eiffel Tower. I will never forget all of the amazing memories I have with y’all. Thanks for being my people. I love y’all.

As I sit here writing this post, it is pouring rain outside, and has been doing so for the last 29 hours. Additionally, it shows no signs of stopping anytime soon thanks to good ole Hurricane Harvey. The good thing though is we don’t have to walk everywhere, so it’s quite soothing and far less of an inconvenience. It does remind me of one of our last days in Berlin though. We were in Alexanderplatz heading back to the hotel, it was pouring, and I had my Birks on. I remember the puddles were so bad I took my shoes off and walked barefoot the entire way back to the hotel for like 30 minutes. Probably super unsanitary, but at least I mostly saved my Birks. They’re still a little crunchy to this day, but that’s okay because it reminds me of the memories. It’s the little things like that which often cross my mind during the day and remind me of all the fun we had over there. I still compare every scoop of ice cream I eat to all the stracciatella in every wonderful European city we visited. Somehow Blue Bell just isn’t the same now. Everytime someone asks me if I miss it, I always tell them I would hop on the next plane back to Cologne, and I seriously mean that. Germany will always hold a special place in my heart, and I cannot wait to go back and visit, hopefully sooner rather than later. Until then, I still have all the memories, pictures, videos, and anecdotes from the trip of my life, so that I can relive it on a weekly basis. And trust me, I do reminisce about once or twice a week. I am so thankful that God blessed me with such an amazing experience and some incredible new best friends. As cliché as it sounds, this trip changed my life. I am a much more adaptable, independent, self-sufficient human being because of this experience. Sometimes it takes a little adversity to get you out of your comfort zone and help you to grow. Germany did that for me, and I’ll be forever grateful.

To the greatest place on Earth: you are deeply missed, and I will see you soon.

Auf Wiedersehen Bonn!

Reflection

As I write this post, I already know what emotions are going to be flying through my head; they're all good ones. The first 6 weeks of this summer I got to experience things that most people will never get to experience in an entire lifetime. The places, the people, the things, and the friendships made will be the biggest things I will take away from this trip. The roller coaster of culture shock and the whole adjustment back to "American" life... just a few more things to point out.

First, the people in our summer 1 program were absolutely amazing. The trip would have been no where as fun if our group as a whole didn't get along. Although most of us had never met before, after 6 weeks it was almost as if we had been best friends our whole lives. I am glad to see that even now, back in the states, we are still close friends. Just last night I saw pictures of Nick, both Sarah's, and Joanna on Northgate haha. For an American, Europe isn't just a place, it is an experience. And my experience wouldn't have been the same without these people. Thank you all for that.

Second, the places. Nick and I traveled to 7 countries in our short time over seas. Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Austria, Czech Republic, and Ireland. Before this trip the only time i had really traveled outside of Texas was to visit family in a different state. It blew my mind how geographically close people are while being so culturally different. For instance, a 1 hour train ride later, we'd be in a different country speaking a different language. From each place I went, I made sure to take a moment out of my day to make a mental picture of the situation I was in. In Prague I sat down on a bench on top of the Prague Castle and just looked at the skyline as the sun began to set. I think that is when it finally hit me that I wasn't in America anymore. Words cannot describe the insane amounts of cultural shock I went through. And I wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of all my new friends.

For every place we went, one of our two professors, Dr. Wasser and Dr. Waltz, always knew something. It became something of a competition to ask a question one of them couldn't answer. After seeing open heart surgery along with the countless of medical museums, hospitals, and exhibitions, I can say that my view on medicine is definitely different than before my trip over there. In Europe, almost all healthcare is universal; everyone will get the help they need regardless of their financial position. Back home in the US, I see what we are trying to do with Obamacare, medicaid, and medicare. I don't think we are implementing it in the most efficient way however, after spending time in numerous countries that had universal healthcare, I know for a fact it can be done. I also have a new found respect for the European doctors. I made the decision to pursue a career in medicine only about 2 years ago. In the United States, that is fine however, in Europe you are admitted into medical school straight out of high school. The doctors over there knew exactly what they wanted to do in life by the age they were 18.

Although I missed home while abroad, I think about Germany and Europe as a whole almost every day. So many things I was able to see and so many experiences I was able to experience. I am currently in the process of planning my next Euro-trip for the summer after I graduate and (hopefully) before medical school. I will most likely visit Köln and Bonn on a second trip. Mostly just to eminence on all the craziness that happened in those 6 weeks. My advise to anyone thinking about studying abroad: do it, there is literally no way possible you could regret it.

Germany History of Medicine in Retrospect

Sometime during the Fall of 2016, I made it a goal of mine to one day go abroad, although for some reason I didn’t think it would happen anytime soon. I did not realize at that moment just how possible it was for me to do so, and that I could do so that very next summer too. Funny enough, just around that time I received an email from Dr. Wasser, where he talked about the Germany History of Medicine program for the summer of 2017. As a pre-med student and Biomedical Sciences major, this program was just too perfect and exactly what I was looking for. I went ahead and applied, not thinking or worrying about how I would pay for it, knowing I’d have lots of options and resources available for financial aid here at A&M. This was by far a decision I could not be more glad I made, and have not once thought twice about since the trip.

It wasn’t until I was on my way to the airport that it actually hit me that I was about to travel across the Atlantic and be thousands of miles away from home for a whole six weeks. I was suddenly nervous, excited and somewhat scared for a second, then I figured it was normal to be having all these feelings at once given what was about to happen. As far as expectations go, I went into this program with a very open mind, willing to take on whatever came my way and hoping to take in as much as possible while in Europe. I of course knew a few things going in, such as some of the cultural and language differences, the difference in transportation and how people got around in Germany, the way money is handled, etc. I’ve got to say though, once you’re actually there and take a second to look around and reflect on what is going on, it’s quite amazing. You’re at a place you’ve (probably) never been before and maybe never even thought you’d ever be, as it was in my case. All of the sudden everyone around you speaks a different language and behaves differently. The architecture is completely different than in the states, the currency, the food, and even the license plates in cars. It’s a lot to take in, but it’s at the same time extremely exciting.

There were many surprises for me during my time in Germany, most of which were not very pleasant, but nonetheless added to the experience. First, water is not free at restaurants, in fact, it’s usually pretty expensive, which encouraged me to go for the cheaper, not as healthy drink alternatives. Most places do not accept credit cards so having cash at all times is essential. Public transportation is heavily used and depended on by most people, including us students. Pickpocketing is real, and so is straight-up robbery in major cities (not to scare anyone, but we did have one or two attempts made on us).

There were also more pleasant surprises, such as the amount of people that spoke English there, making getting around a lot easier than it would’ve been otherwise. The depth of the history that is held in Europe was also quite surprising. The number of museums and sites we were able to visit. The number of cities and countries (I managed to visit 8 different countries during those six weeks). The natural beauty of places like Switzerland. Overall, just the amount of places, people, and information I was able to learn about and visit, in just six weeks. Needless to say, the entire trip had me exhausted towards the end, but it could not have been more rewarding.

This is something you hear often from people who have gone abroad, but it is for a reason because it’s very true. And that is, that going abroad changes you. It changes your perspective on the world. It makes everything you’ve ever learned or heard about Europe that much more real. It makes you no longer see your country as the center of the world. It makes you appreciate the little things in life, things you often take for granted back home (such as free water). It enlightens you as to why international students often have a hard time adjusting to their new environment. It gives you a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It allows you to further grow and discover yourself, your interests, your passions.

To finish this off, I’d like to share some advice for anyone considering studying abroad. Don’t think twice about it, and just go for it. It’s going to be scary at times, you’re going to be stressed, worried, tired and confused, but will not once regret your decision. Prepare and educate yourself as much possible beforehand, learn a bit about the language and culture, places you’d like to visit, foods you’d like to try, etc. This will make the experience a lot smoother and more fulfilling. Try new things and step out of your comfort zone, explore. Make the most out of your time there since who knows when you’ll have a chance to go back. Take a moment every now and then to look around, appreciate and take it all in. Immerse yourself in your new environment.

I’m now back in the United States, where I’ve readjusted back to my old life, but with a completely new perspective of myself and the world, and countless and amazing memories that will last a lifetime.

Jubel zum besten Sommer meines Lebens,

Miguel G.

go your own way

reflection

First off, I would just like to say how fitting it is that I'm writing this blog post on today of all days. I spent this entire afternoon with Carter, Gabe, Alana, Kathryn, and Hailey having a truly wonderful time, so if that doesn't sum up for you what this study abroad meant to me, hopefully this blog post will.

I'm not even sure where to begin. I could start with the cliches: the "this summer changed my life"s, or the "I'm a different person than I was last year"s, or the "I have gained so many incredible experiences"s, but I'm sure you've read quite a few of those. I mean, they are cliches for a reason--they're all true on my account. Rather, I've decided to compile a short list of tips and tricks for all future study abroad-ers, in the hopes you will be able to glean some more unique information. (sorry if it's a tad redundant in places)

STUDY ABROAD 101

1. Listen. Listen and observe. Listen to your program coordinators as they have literal FONTS of knowledge and they are ready and willing to share it with you. I was amazed at the depth of Dr. Wasser and Prof. Waltz's expertise on the subjects I was learning about and this was the perfect learning environment to ask whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Listen to the locals around you in an attempt to gain more of an understanding what life is like for them and how it's different from yours. Listen to even just a city square and discover the typical sounds of a European town and watch the difference in interactions. I found I could learn so much if I just shut up and listened.

2. Be flexible. The only constant in life is change, and this trip is especially no exception. Plans are going to change. You aren't going to be able to do everything you want to do, but that is okay. Sometimes it will be the program's fault, sometimes it will be your fault, sometimes it will be nobody's fault, but that is okay. You will be mad, but that is okay. I promise you will get over it. 

3. Sleep. Whenever you can and wherever you can. You will thank yourself later. There are going to be late nights and early mornings and there's nothing you can do about it, so find the time on a long train ride to take a short nap to recharge. 

4. Don't sleep. Some of the times I treasure most from my study abroad are the ones where we were up way past when we should have been (usually with early mornings to follow). You only get so much precious time with all of your favorite people together in one place in Europe, so stay up that extra hour just to sit around and laugh your butts off and dye your friend's hair. Or maybe don't.

5. Be prepared to not be prepared. In some ways, I was the poster child for this (Waltz's nickname for me wasn't Shambles for nothing--I was quite shambly on multiple occasions). Europe is going to throw you for a loop multiple times. Whether it's forgetting a toothpaste (and possibly piggy backing off your host family for the first two weeks...) or having to run from platform to platform with all your luggage and still missing your train, or not having the currency of the country you have just arrived in, you're going to have to accept that all you can do is take it all in stride. Things are going to be nuts most of the time, but it is your absolute duty to make the best of even the worst circumstances on this trip. You'd be surprised how good of a time you can end up having. 

6. Open your mind. Too many times people on my trip were so stuck in their American ways that they failed to see how amazing different lifestyles are from our own. They couldn't see how much there is to learn from people that are different from us and didn't bother to try to see new perspectives. They were afraid to try new things or new foods and honestly, it was sad to see. We are in such a bubble in the United States (although it is a wonderful bubble most of the time) that we don't realize the underlying beauty in the diversity that is Europe--even if that beauty and diversity means paying for bathrooms and water.

7. Question everything. You have been lumped with people you have most likely have never met before. They are going to see and do things in a different way than you, and there's always that chance you are going to completely disagree with them. This doesn't matter--everyone has something you can learn from if you'd only ask. Not to mention, pretty much every excursion, every outing will put you in contact with experts about anything you could imagine, from axolotls to organs, and once again, I encourage you to fire your questions at them unabashedly. I learned some of the coolest things from questions someone asked. This tip is especially true if you're staying with a host family like we did. I found this to be the perfect opportunity, the perfect lens into what daily life was like in a foreign country.

8. Appreciate your time in Europe (or wherever). This is truly a once in a life experience. Eat the food. Drink the sparkling water. Go on trips with those in your program and somehow end up making five new best friends. Soak in all of the amazing sights. Some people go their whole lives without experiencing even a measly taste of what we did, so be unendingly grateful and appreciative. It took many people to get me to where I am to go on this trip, and I cannot thank them enough because (cliche) I would not have had the greatest summer of my life without them. 

9. Jump in the North Sea. Go to the Ice Bar. Take the leap and apply for the study abroad. Take all the chances you can on said study abroad. Seize the freaking day.

Writing this, I must admit to succumbing to a melancholy feeling. As grateful as I am for this amazing trip, I'm also worried about forgetting. I'm worried about forgetting not only the amazing sights, but also the small details: like the white building with the cobalt blue railing I marveled at on each bus ride home, the fact that Maike and Gabriel would always hold hands when we went out, what Alana likes to eat for breakfast, how the Hofgarten looked on a sunny afternoon sprinkled with university students, the ridiculousness of Henning on a bicycle, how good water felt to drink after a few hours of touring a city, what the mud felt like when it squished under my feet in Norderney, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. And I suppose my fear will always be with me as that is the nature of time (cue existential wonderings) and it simply encourages me to return to Europe and all its wonders. But as we all go our own way and our paths diverge, I realize never again will I experience it in this way, with these people ever again, and while this is sad, it also makes me all the more grateful that I got to spend six whole weeks feeling like the best version of myself, with some of the greatest people I've met. And that I will never forget.

For the last time.

JMD

The Best 10 Weeks of my Life in a Nutshell

I basically spent my entire Spring semester planning for and building up all these expectations for my summer in Europe. I spent hours daydreaming about what it might be like, but no amount of daydreaming could prepare me for what I was about to experience. I will never forget the moment I jumped off the airplane into a new world. Barcelona was my first stop and I could not wrap my head around the fact that I was finally living and breathing my dream. When I first met everyone on the program at the airport, I could have never imagined these would soon become some of my very best friends. When I first met my host family, I would have never thought we would have some of the most life-changing conversations. When I took a look around at Bonn the first time, I would have never guessed it would soon become my second home. Our first attempt at traveling on the weekends was a little chaotic and I figured I would never get the hang of things. But sure enough, every person on the trip now holds a special place in my heart. When I think back on some of my best memories, I think back to the little moments made with my friends. The missed trains, the bike crashes, random falls, working together through language barriers, getting caught in monsoon-type-rains, and everything in-between. My host family quickly became my second family. When I think back on them I think of jumping on the trampoline and playing darts with my host sister. I think of the moving conversations such as talking about WWII with my host mom. I think of sitting outside on the back porch and just living in their every day lives. When I look back and think of the excursions we took as a group and the weekend trips I went on, I can’t help but get completely lost in my thoughts. Every place we traveled to was a new adventure. Every place helped me grow in a different way and I feel like I left a piece of my heart everywhere I went. There is such a huge amount of culture packed into such a small area in Europe. I appreciated how every country had such a unique culture. I loved embracing new languages, food, cultural norms, music, and so much more.

Traveling through Europe felt partly like a vacation, but mostly it was the biggest learning experience I have encountered. It challenged me in ways I could have never predicted. It made me so much more open-minded and made me realize that I really only live on one little dot on the planet. There is so much more out there, and you could say I now have the “travel bug.” All I have done since I have returned to the U.S. is figure out ways I can continue traveling. I want to be exposed to as many different cultures as I can before I die. I feel like there is no way to be fully accepting and open to differences without experiencing some of these first-hand. I would be lying if I said it has been easy being back home. There are times where I feel close to depressed. But I am thankful that I now have this yearning to continue to learn. Traveling for 10 weeks also made me appreciate a lot more about my home, family, and friends. It allowed me to take a step back and think about who and what is really important. This experience helps me approach situations differently and overall has given me a more open-minded perspective.

When I am old and gray, I know I will still think back on these 10 weeks abroad and think they were the best 10 weeks of my entire life. I don’t think I will ever have quite the same experience again, but that is okay. I could not be happier with the way things turned out for me and I know I will never lose my “travel bug.” Thank you Europe for showing me a whole new world and making me fall completely in love. Thank you Dr. Wasser for encouraging us to chase the “Hero’s Journey.” Thank you Professor Waltz, Henning, my host family, and everyone else who encouraged me to keep myself open throughout the entire trip. Thank you to my 20+ best friends who made this experience so much more than it would have been on my own. For now, I will continue to dream about Europe until I can hopefully soon return.

The Adventure of a Lifetime

            First of all, I have never experienced six weeks fly by so fast in my whole life. But wow. Now that I’ve had a couple months to adjust back to my old life, I can’t help but try to intertwine my life and the lessons I learned in Europe into my everyday routine. I’m mostly just thankful for the opportunity to go on this amazing trip and especially to experience it with such an incredible group of people. Going into the program I expected to make a couple of friends but never did I think that after six short weeks I would emerge with so many new friendships. That has definitely been one of the most rewarding parts of study abroad for me.

            Being in Europe, and especially Bonn, almost feels like a dream at this point because it was such a contained unit of people that all did everything together. I was never alone unless I was sleeping, which definitely made any sense of homesickness fly out the window. While I absolutely loved all of the lectures and museums we got to visit, I think I ultimately learned the most from the weekend trips when we were on our own. It’s pretty comical to think back to our first weekend trip going to Amsterdam. Not only did we miss our train but we were absolutely freaking out trying to make plans. By the last weekend trip to Oppenau nothing was planned and while public transportation is always unpredictable, we were much better at adjusting to bumps in the road than at the beginning of the trip. I will always cherish the confidence that this trip gave me about traveling on my own.

            Not only did I learn how to travel, but I also was exposed to so many different cultures than the one I grew up knowing. From the absolute shock of the Red Light District to the overall European culture of walking and biking more places, it definitely opened my eyes to a whole different world. One thing I absolutely loved about being in Germany was the recycling system. Being abroad showed me just how much America has to do with the environmental issues in the world, and being able to help out by religiously recycling and taking public transportation everywhere instead of separate cars makes a lot of sense to me. While I always recycled back home in San Antonio, I’ve struggled to do it in college. However, since coming back this year I realize that the extra hassle is what it takes to save the planet and it’s something I’m definitely going to work on. Unfortunately, the public transportation in Texas is not nearly up to European standards, but you can’t win ‘em all. At least I know now what other areas of the world are doing to help out the environment and also to stay healthier.

            Since coming home I think everyone that I’ve talked to has gotten absolutely over my “one time in Bonn” stories, because there are just so many. I find myself going back through old pictures almost daily and reminiscing on the whole experience. While it can be a little sad at times that life now isn’t quite as exciting as petting elephants and going to concentration camps, it also makes me very thankful and happy to have all of those memories to look back at and think about.

            I’ll forever cherish my time in Bonn and I truly hold my study abroad experience as the best six weeks of my entire life. Hopefully I’ll get to go back to Europe one day and use all of the knowledge (and German) I gained on this incredible trip again.